Safety device for occupants of vehicles



June 29, 1943. if! K. VOORHIES SAFETY DEVICE FOR OCCUPANTS 'OF VEHICLESI 3 SheetsF-Sheet 1 Filed April 1, 1.941

68 YAIVEIYTOR Pay A? 'l aopwas", 7.

A Trek/YE Y.

Patented June 29 1943 7' SAFETY DEVICE roa oocuras'rs or vmnous:

Roy K. Voorhies, Los Angeles,

Safride, Ltd., Carson City, Non, a corporation of Nevada ApplicationApril 1, 1941, Serial No. 386,228

11 Claims. (Cl. 280-150) This application is a continuation-in-part ofmy pending application, Serial No. 338,524, filed June 3, 1940, forPassenger protective apparatus,

which application has been abandoned.

The invention relates to a device having dual .utility in vehicles, suchas, automobiles, which are propelled at relatively high velocities,bringing to the art an organization which will prevent injury of ridersdue to sudden stopping of vehicles', and which will at one and the sametime serve as a table or rest positioned in front of a rider, and havingcooperating parts arranged to gradually absorb the momentum of the riderwhen the vehicle is brought to a sudden stop, either as the result of asevere use of the brakes or the vehicle striking an object.

Although it is an object of my invention to provide a simple andpractical safety device for automotive vehicles, adapted to receiveforce and movement from the body of a passenger due to momentum, whenthe automobile is brought to a sudden stop, and to bring the passengerto a stop in a manner to avoid injury to him, it is also an importantobject of the invention to solve an existing problem relating to the useof shelves or tables in vehicles while the same are being propelledforwardly. Tables or shelves have been employed in automobiles,supported in positionsover the laps of the riders so as to be used in anormal manner, but it has been recognized that tables so positionedconstitute a hazard to the rider in event of an accident. The presentinvention flows'in part from the conception that this hazard may beentirely eliminated and in addition thereto an added safety to the ridermay be attained, without any sacrificeof the uti ity of the table forits normal use, by mounting at the front edge of the table a memberhaving such vertical width as to engage a sufiiciently large area of thebody of the passenger, and support the table so that it may at alltimes, without release of latches, size, be moved forward from itsextended position under control of a momentum absorbingmeans, so that inevent ot the vehicle beingbrought to an abrupt stop, 3: portion of thebody of the rider will bebrought immediately into engagement with thebody engaging member, and then the force of the rider's momentum will betransmitted through the freely movable table structure against thegradually increasing reaction or resistance of the momentum absorbingmeans, thereby bringing the rider to a stop so that he willnot bethrownagainst the instrument board or against and/or through the windshield. Accordingly, it is an object I of my invention to bring to theart a device such as described in the foregoing.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a safety device forautomotive vehicles having a body engaging member adapted to be movedfrom a retractedposition into a body en gaging position, and supportedin such manner a that it may be moved forward from body engagingposition, with momentum absorbing means for bringingthe body engagingmember to a gradual stop when a heavy force is applied there to by thepassenger. A further object of the invention is to provide a device ofthe character described in the preceding paragraph, wherein thecooperating parts are so associatedthat adjustment of the body engagingmember into opbody engaging member exerted by the momentum absorbingmeans will always start at a low or near zero value and increasegradually to a high value. Accordingly, when a rider is carried forwardby momentum, his body is not brought into ment of the rider's body andthe body engaging member of my device is eflected in such a way thatthey are in contact and both in forward movement before any largeresistance to the forward movement of the rider's body is exerted by themomentum absorbing means. 1

It is a further object of the invention to provide a safety device ofthe character described having a carrier supported in the vehicle so asto be moved from a retracted position into an extended position,'a bodyengaging member ad-' justably mounted on the carrier so that it may beadjusted into a desired operative relation ,to the body of a rider, andmomentum absorbing means arranged so that it will apply its resistanceto at least the carrier part or the body en-- 'A further object of theinvention is to provide a. safety device of the character described ar-'ranged to be .moved from a retracted position within a recess providedtherefor in thevehicle into an extended position, and to havemeans foradjustment therewith whereby a yieldable body engaging member may bebrought into a position cooperative with the body of arider.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rider safety apparatusof the character described having means for controlling the movement ofthe body engaging member in such manner that recoil or rebound of thebody engaging member will be prevented. A further object is to provide adevice of this character wherein the momentum absorbing means comprisesan expansile-contractile member having one relatively movable wallthereof operatively connected with the body engaging member, and beingarranged so that fluid resistance within the expansile-contractilemember will rise from a near atmospheric pressure gradually to a highpressure when the body engaging member is moved forward from any one ofthe operative positions into which it may be adjusted, and it is afurther object to provide in association with the expansile contractilemember means for controlling theflow of fluid so as to attain a novelReferring to the drawings which are for illustrative purposes only:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional view showing 1 the front seat of anautomobile with a preferred form -of my invention in operative position.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the cated by the line 4-4 ofFig. 3.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section take on the plane representedby line 5--6 of Fig. 1,

and showing the valve means associated with the cylinder and pistonmechanism of the device.

Fig. 6 is a plan view, schematic in its general character, showing analternative form of my invention adapted to be secured in an automobilein the general manner shown in Figs. 1 to 3.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a form of my inventionadapted to be swung, when in collapsed or retracted position, into arecess provided therefor, under the cowl of the automobile.

Fig. 8 is'a 'plan view of the device shown in Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, showing the details ofthe clutch body employed in Fig. 8.

For the purpose of showing one use of my invention, I have in Fig. ldiagrammatically indicated the instrument panel l0, cowl I I and firewall l2 positioned forward ofthe front seat l3 of an automobile.Projecting from under the'cowl toward the back I of the seat I3, I haveshown the table and body engaging organization Hi; this organization l5being positioned at such a level that, it will pass aboveand be spacedfrom the knees and upper limbs of the rider or passenger bile for thepurpose of passing from one place to v another. The organization l5 hasassociated therewith means whereby it may be adjusted from the retractedposition shown inFig. 2 through a plurality of operative positions sothat the body engaging member l6 at the end of the organization l5 maybe positioned by the rider into a position close to the upright part ofhis body or in engagement therewith. The means for adjusting theorganization l5 and operatively supporting the same includes asupporting frame I! arranged to be secured to the-structure of thevehicle. As shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, this support includes a pair ofupper bars l8 d'sposed in a substantially horizontal plane and beingheld in spaced relation by a front cross bar l9 and a rear plate 20.When the support I! is secured inthe automobile the rear plate 20, whichextends in an upright plane, is connected to the fire wall l2. The crossbar I9 is of the general configuration shown in Pg 4 and has in thecentral portion thereof below the plane of the side bars 18, a guideopening 2|, through which a cylinder 22 passes and in which the cylinderis movable from retracted position as shown in Fig. 2 to an extendedposition relative to the frame I] as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, thiscylinder 22 accordingly constituting an extensible part of means forguiding and adjusting the organization l5 through its differentpositions of operation.

. The cylinder 22 has a wall 23 closing its rear end, and wings 24extend laterally from the rear end of the cylinder, with openings 25therein to of the cylinder 22, in extended position, a latch 30 isprovided, this latch having side bars 3| swung on pivot means 32,carried by lugs 23 which project forward from the rear plate 20, therebeing springs 34 to urge the latch means 30 upwardwhereby its engager 35will be held in a pos tion to engage the rear end wall 23 of thecylinder 22. Handles 33 are provided whereby the latch 30 may be swungdownwardto release the cylinder 22 so that the springs will move thesame from extended position, asshown in Figs. 1 and 3, to retractedposition, as shown in Fig. 2.

The organization. l5 includes an upper support,

or table, 31, disposed so as to extend in the gen-' eral direction ofhorizontal. In the preferred practice of the invention, the uppersupport 31 will lie substantially in a horizontal plane, but in variousapplications of the device to automobiles,

it is to be expected that in some instances it will be necessary todispose the same in a near hori-' zontal but sloping plane. The width ofthe support or table 31 is such that it may'pass forward or rightwardbetween the inner edges of the side bars i8 when the support or table 31is moved from extended to retracted position. The support or table 31 isreinforced by members 38, prefora-bly in the form of structural angleswhich are placed under the lateral edges thereof. The rear or left endsof the support and the reinforcing members 38 are connected to crossplate 39 from which a hollow piston or plunger 40 extends in asaavssaxial l lnment with mercynmiern sd'that-the forward end 4| thereof willpass within the rear tion II. for the purpose of gradually absorbing themomentum of the rider when there is a sudden change in the rate ofmovement of the vehicle. Although not limited thereto, I prefer to useair as the fluid medium with the expansile contractile means to effect agradually increasing resistance to or retraction againstforward movementof the organization II from any of the operative positions into which itmay be adjusted. In keeping therewith, I have provided a valve means 43for the control of the flow of air to and from the interior of theplunger 40 and cylinder 22. This, valve means is disposed at the forwardend of the plunger 40, and, as shown in Fig. 5.

comprises a valve casing 44 and a valve seat 4| around a downwardlyfaced opening 46. A'check valve 41 is urged intoengagement with the seatII by a spring and from the check valve 41, an engageable member 49 isprojected downward through the opening I, so that by upward pressure ofa finger against the member .49, the check valve may be raised fromengagement with the seat 45. To supplement the action of air within thecontractile expansile means, I provide, in

a manner which will be hereinafter described in detail, spring meansconsisting of compression springs II and SI respectively disposed so asto engage the end plate 3g of the plunger III and the end wall 23 of thecylinder 22. To guide and centralize the springs l0 and I l within themembers l0 and ti, I provide a filler 52 which may be made of some lightweight material such as wood, in the shape of a long slender cylinderhaving a collar 52 intermediate the ends thereof, which collar II willserve to centralize the filler 52 relative to the axis of the members 22and Ill and longitudinally with springs BI and ii. The adjacent ends ofthe springs and ii bear against the opposite ends of the shoulder .53,and slots 54 are provided in the collar'for movement of the air withinthe expansile contractile device in axial direction. The filler i2,interchangeable with one of greater or lesser length, provides means fordetermining the combined internal volume of cylinder and plunger and,therefore, determines,

the cushioned force against the passenger body exerted to fully extendthe plunger lll into the cylinder 22.

A feature of the invention is that the organization I! may be movedforward or rightward from the fully extended position inwhich it isshown in Fig. l. or any of the operative positions into which a it maybe selectively adjustedyby the rider. but means are provided forpreventing a rebound or recoil of the organization I! when it has beenoperated forwardly or rightwardly against the resistance of the fluid inthe expanslle contractile means and springs 50 and II. Therefore, thepossibility of injury to the rider as the result of rebound or recoil isavoided. To control the rearwardmovement of the'organization l5 relativeto the cylinder 22; I provide a friction type of latch 55 comprisingaring-'56 swingably associated with a supporting. bracket 51 carried onstance, under a circumstance might inadvertently move the organizationit rearward from retracted position while holding the rebound latch indisengagedposition, I proplunger therear end of'the cylinder 22,'i'nsuch a manner that it is normally urged into diagonal or grippingposition, as shown in Fig. 3, by a spring I. The

the spring it engages a recess 82 in the corre-,

sponding side of the ring it to exert a force to swing the ring on thepivot means I thereof into diagonal position. A handle It projectsfromthe swing side of the ring I. and provides a means whereby the ringmay be swimg against the action of the spring It to a transverseposition wherein it will be disengaged from the surface of the plungerII, with the result that the plunger ll may be then moved rearward orleftward relative to the cylinder 22. It will be noted that the latch55- ls of such character that it will not-prevent movement of theplunger ll into the cylinder 22 from an extended position.

Rotation of the organization I! on the axis of the cylinder 22 isprevented by additional guide and supporting means consisting of lugs Nwhichprojeet from the front ends of the reinforcing members it under theinner edges of the side bars ll of the supporting frame ll so as to makesliding engagement with the side bars I. Rearward movement of theorganization Ii relative to the supporting. frame I! is limited bylugs", which project downward from the forward ends of the side bars itinto the path of movement of the lugs I. So that rearward movement ofthe organization II from retracted position, as shown in Fig. 2, cannever result in withdrawal of the plunger more than a prescribeddistance from the cylinder 22, as, for in? wherein the rider vide a lugI on one-of the members 28 in a position to engage a projection 51 whichextends laterally from the bracket 51 at the forward end of the cylinder22.

When the rider desires to use the device either as a table or rest uponwhich to place objects, or as a safety device, he will pull rearward onthe organization II by manual engagement with the ends of the bodyengaging member I. This rearward force will be transmitted through theII and thelatch 55 to the cylinder 22 with the result that theorganization and the cylinder 22 will be moved as a unit to suchposition that the engager 3| of the latch "will move upward into aposition behind the end wall 23 of the cylinder 22, as shown in Figs. 1and 3. The

move the organization I! relative to the cylinder 22 and the frame I! toa selected operative position, with the body engaging member It inengagement with or relatively close to the upright portion of his body.During this outward movement of the plunger 40 relative to the cylinder22,

air may pass in through the valve 43. Thereafter, any material forceexerted in forward dlrection against the organization l5, as, forexample, by the body of the passenger as a result Y of a sudden stoppingof the vehicle, will result in a movement of the organization It inforward direction, during which movement there will be 4 a' gradualbuilding up of resistance against the forward movement, at such a rateof increase that the momentum of the passenger will be sub- "stantiallyabsorbed before the .end H of the der 22.

A further feature of the device is that the face of the engager cannotbe moved forward beyond the plane oi-a, Fig. 1, when it is functioningas a safety device. Accordingly, the forward moveplunger ll reaches theend wall 23 of the cylinmentof the passenger is stopped in spacedrelation to the instrument panel l and windshield of the automobile,likewise, the organization iii cannot be swung upward from itssubstantially horizontal plane of movement and therefore the ridercannot be thrown upwardly and forwardly 'so as to strike the top of thecar or the metal frame worirat the top of the windshield.

When the organization it is in fully extended position as shown in Figs.1 and 3, the apes 5t and 5t will be nearly relaxed'so that theirretraction against forward movement of the cream? zation ill will he sosmall as to be regarded as substantially zero value. Likewise, thepressure oi air within the expansible contractile meanssupported'by acarriage which may be moved and locked into an extended position.Between this rigidly held can'iage, comprising the cylinder 22 and thebody engaging member, momentum absorbing means are eflective. In Fig. 6,I show a simple structure wherein a carrier I8 is movably supported by asupporting frame 6! and momentum absorbing means 19 are disposed betweenthe carrier 60 and the frame 60 with a body engaging organization itadjustable through consecutive operative positions relative to'thecarrier 68. The frame to s a rear wall it with an opening It therein,and a front wall iii with an opening therein. The carrier 883 comprisesa tube which is slidable in the openlugs i3 and 16, the opening it ofthe ember so receiving a bar Ti which to part of the body engagingorganization and extends forward from the body engaging member it of theorgation. The momentumabsorhing means it is shown as coil spring meansplaced between the rear wall 82 ofthe frame Gill and a flange orshoulder it on the tube til. The tube E38 ay always be moved in forwarddirection, or rightward, against the resistance of the spring i6 fromits normal position shown in Fig. 6. Left ward movement, or recoil, ofthe tube til is con trolled by a diagonal ring latch to adapted to heinto a position forward of the fully extended position in which it isshown in Fig. i, the distance which it may travel before reaching theend of its permissible forward movement will be de crossed and, sincethe air pressure within the cylinder and the plunger is at atmosphericat the start of the forward movement of the organization IS, the airpressure within the plunger and cylinder it will build up to a lowervalue. However,

the springs 5t and 5| will be partly compressed at the start of theforward movement of the organization i5, and therefore the springsresistance will build up from this initial spring resistance, resultingfrom the fact that the springs are under partial compression at thestart of the forward movement of the organization i5 due to the factthat the organization l5 was adjusted into an operative position aheadof its fully extended position. In the ordinary use of the device, Ihave found that the momentum of a rider is fully absorbed before theorganization it reaches the limit of its forward permissible movement.

When the rider desires to move the device into retracted position, hefirst applies upward pressure against the member 49, Fig. 5, to raisethe valve 41 and then forces forwardly against the organization 15whereupon the plunger may be readily moved into the cylinder 22 againstthe action of the springs 50 and Bi, while air is displaced freely tothe exterior through the open valve ll. When the limit of the forwardmovement of the plunger it in the cylinder 22- is reached, the rider, bengagement of the handle 36 may swingthe latch 3t downward whereupon thesprings 29 will carry-the cylinder 22 and the organization it into fullyretracted position under the cowl ii.

In the form of the invention disclosed in Fig. 3, the body engagingorganizz'ation it is'yieldably swung into releasing position ivyrearward move ment of the handle on. The compression spring means it mayconsist of more than one spring, placed concentrically as shown, orotherwise, so as to provide progressively increasing pressures duringmovement or" the body engaging member to and so approximate the build-upof cushioned resistance attained by fluid compression as de scribed. Atthe left end of the tubular member hi; there is a clutch or engage-r '82for locking the tube 69 and the bar ll together in such a manner thatthe bar cannot be moved rightward relative to the tube oil. This clutchor loci;- ing means 82 may be of the diagonal friction ring type and maybe released by pulling leit= ward or rearward on an associated handle88. The body engaging organization ii may be ad= justed relative to thetube 68 and toward the body of the vehicle occupant, through a pluralityoi? operative positions. 'The body engaging organization may be movedforward from any of these positions of operation due to the fact thatthe bar Ii and the tube may be moved at any time as a unit in forwarddirection against the-increasing resistance of' the momentum absorbingmeans represented in Fig. 6 as a coil spring.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 6, the spring means I0normally remains in relaxed condition, with the carrier 68 resting inthe position in which it is shown in full lines. It is intended that therebound latch means 89 shall have stop means a for limiting its releaseso that after the carrier has been forced forwardly from itsnormal'position and the spring means M has been compressed, the latchmeans 80 will act as a recoil dampener by exerting a frictional drag onthecarrier 68 so that release of theprinciples disclosed in theforegoing may be embodied in a structure having swingably supportedparts, and that in many instances it may be desirable to swing thecombined table and safety device into retracted position within a re.-

cess provided therefor in' the automobile. As-

shown in Figs. 'l and 8, I provide a carrier in the form of a framehaving side bars 01 and posed body engaging member "with a wall or table03 projecting forward therefrom so as to project into and slide in slots00 in the inner edges of the side bars 01 of the carrier 06.

Within the forward end of the tube 09 there is a compression spring 00which represents the momentum absorbing means of this form of theinvention. This spring 00 is of such length that it will project intothe forward end'of the tube 00 when the tube 90 is in fully extendedposition relative to the tube 09. The forward end of the spring 00 issecured at 06 to the forward end wall of the tube 00, and a clutch body81 is secured on the rear end of the spring 95 within the tube 90, keymeans 01a being provided to prevent rotation of the body 91 relative tothe tube 90, As best shown in Fig. 9, the clutch body 81 has an axialopening 00 through which a cam rod 00 is slidable, this cam rod 00 beingof non-circular cross section, for example, square. In the surface ofthe clutch body 01 there'are a;pluralityof pockets I00, having bottomwalls l0i, which diverge rightwardly or rearwardly. These bottom gagingorganization 0! having a laterally disdevice. when it -is r etractedwithin the recess il2, a's shown by dotted lines III. This spring latchI20 extends across the rear end of a latch bar I plvotally supported bybrackets in on the fire wall I20 at the forward end of. the space underthe cowl. The latch bar III is connected by a shaft element ill with ahandle I20 as shown in Fig. 8. When the handle I2! is swung downward,the latch bar i2! will be rotated in anti-clockwise direction, and a toeI20 disposed at the rearward end thereof will swing the'spring latch I20in forward direction and out of ,eng'agemnt with the device retractedwithin the recess 2. When the carrier 00 is .swung out of the recess illinto extended position, as shown in Fig. 7, a latch dog I" on theforward end of the latch bar Ill, will be moved upwardly by theassociated spring I20 into engagement with the rear end wall of the tube00, thereby holding the carrier 00 in extended position, this carrier 00then holding the body engaging assembly ll so that it may be adjustedthrough various operative positions. When the organization ii is movedrearward for the purpose of adjusting the same into=a desired relationto the rider, the tube 00 may move leftward relative to thespring 95 andthe clutch body 01, since the springs I02 permit the halls I03 to yieldleftwardly, but the clutch body 01 will then be locked by the balls I00to the tube 90 so that if the body engaging organization 0| ismovedforward, the clutch body 91 must of necessity move therewith against theincreasing force of the spring 0!, the result being that when the bodyengaging organization is adjusted int an operative position relative tothe rider,

balls outward into engagement with the inner face of the tube 00. Fromthe rear or rightward ends of the pockets ill guide openings I04 extendradially into communication with th axial opening 00 of the clutch body91. Releasing pins III are slidable in the guide openings I04, and theinner ends thereof engage the flat surfaces of the bar 00. When the bar00 is rotated through an angle of 45 degrees, the corner portions of thebar 00 will force the members outward, and sloping faces I00, formed atthe outer ends of the members I05 in confronting relation to the ballsI, will force the balls I03 forward or leftward from the positions ofengagement withthe tube 00 in which they are showh in Fig. 9, so thatthese balls Ill may travel down the inclined walls "I and therefore moveout of clutching or locking engagement with the tube 9|.

As shown in Fig. 8, the bar 00 extends axially within the tube 00 and atits rear end has a handle ill which projects through an arcuate slot I"in the wall of the tube 90, making it possible to rotate the bar 90 soas to release the locking means. of the clutch body 91 whenever desired.The carrier 00 is swingable on links 0, so that when the body engagingorganization Si is in retracted relation to the carrier 00, the entireassembly may be swung forward and upward on the links H0 into a recessH2 formed under the cowl III ahead of the instrument panel Ill of anautomobile, as shown by dotted lines III in Fig. 7. The lower ends ofthe links III are connected by pivots ill to the side bars 01 and thecarrier 06, and the upper ends of the links III are connected by meansof pins ill to the structure of the automobile.

As shown in Fig. 7, a spring latch I20 may be positioned so as to engagethe rear end of the forward movement of the rider as a result of asudden stopping of the vehicle will move the organization 0i againsttheresistance of the spring 05 so that the momentum of the rider will beabsorbed and the rider will be brought to astop without serious injuryin case of a relatively bad smash-up andwith no injury whatsoever as aresult of a minormishap. Rebound of the body engaging organization 9ias. a result of recoil of the spring 05 is provided by a control meansshown as a diagonal ring friction clutch I30, swingably mounted on abracket ill carried at the forward end of the tube 00 and having anassociated handle Ill for its release, in the general manner describedrelative to the latch 55, described in detail in relation to Fig, 3.

When it is desired to move the organization 0i.

rightward into retracted position relative to the carrier 01, the handlelll may be rotated downward from the position in which it is shown inFig. 8, thereby rotating the bar 99 so as to force the release keys I00outward, thereby shifting the clutch balls I leftward along the inclinedwalls ill so that the tube 00 may then slide rightward relative to thevclutch .body 01 and the springs ll from the position in which it isshown in full lines in Figs. 8 and 9.

It will be noted that in Figs. 7 to 9, I have shown adevice having abody engaging member which may be adjusted from a retracted positionthrough a plurality of operative positions toward the body of the rider,with an associated momentum absorbing means in such relation to the bodyengaging member that it will always operate, except when the clutchmeans I00 are released, to apply to the bodyengaging member a reactionwhich will vary from a low value at the start of the forward. movementof the body engaging member, and will gradually increase in 1 value asthe rightward movement of the body gaging member is continued. This sameprinclple of operation is embodied in the momentum. absorbing meansshown in the forms oi the inventlon disclosed in Figs. 1 to 5 and Iclaim as my invention: 1. In a vehicle having a recess therein: linkmeans'operatively placed relative to said recess;

a rider safety device swingable on said link means from a positionretracted within said recess to an extended position, said safety devicecomprising a supporting means having pivotal connection V with said linkmeans, a body engaging member asaavas said body engaging member beingmovable for wardly by forward momentum of the possenflel' from any ofsaid operative positions, means for cushioning the forward movement ofsaid body engaging member when it is moved forwardly by *thebodypf thepassenger upon a sudden change "in the'rate of movement of the vehicle,and

foroontrolllng the movement of saidbody engaging member toward saidpassenger.

mounted in the vehicle and having a bodyven= adjustable into extendedposition relative to said supporting means, so as to be movable fromsaid extended position toward said supporting means;

6. In a safety device for vehicles adapted to be gaging means operativethrough a range of positions in advance of the body of a passenger, the

combination oi: supporting means securable within the vehicle, a bodyengaging member movably carried by said supporting means so as to andmeans for cushioning the movement of said a body engaging member towardsaid-supporting means. v v 2. In a vehicle having a recess therein:linls Q means operatively placed relative to said recess; a rider safetydevice swlngable on said llnl: means from a position retracted withinssid recess to an extended position, said safety device vcom prising asupporting means having pivotal con nection with said link means, a bodyengaging member adjustable into extended position rein tlve to saidsupporting means, so as to be mov= able from said extended positiontoward ssiol supporting means; means for cushioning the movement of saidbody engosing member toward I said supporting means; latch means to holdsaid safety device insaid recess; and latch means to secure saidsupporting means in said extended position.

3. In a safety device for vehicles oi the char= be adjusted through aseries oi operative positions in advance of thebody oi the passenger,saidbody engaging member being movable for weirdly by forward momentumof the passenger from any of said operative positions, and mmns forcontrolling forward movement of said body engaging member so as toabsorb the momentum of the body of the passenger upon sudden decrease inthe rate of movement of the vehicle.

7. in a safety device for vehicles adopted to be mounted in the vehicleand having a body engaging means operative through a range of positionsin advance of the body oia passenger,

the combination of; supporting means securable within the vehicle aheadof. a. passenger seat in said vehicle, n body engaging member movablycarried by said supporting means so as to be adjusted vrearvvardly froman extreme position acterdescribed, adapted to be mounted in the vehiclein advanceiof the body or a person, the

combination of: an organization including a sum porting member and abody engaging member carried at the free end thereof, moons ior sup=porting said organization in the vehicle in front of a person so thatsaid organization is free to be moved forwardly by the momentum force ofthe person from a position relatively close m the body of the person,said organization embodying means for absorbing the forward momentumforce of the person, and means for preventing rebound of saidorganization toward the body of the person.

4. In a safety device for vehicles adapted to be mounted in the vehicleand having a body engaging means operative through a range of Ipositions in advance of the body of a passenger, the combination of:supporting means securable within the vehicle, a body engaging membermovably carried by said supporting means so as to be adjusted through aseries of operative positions in advance of the body of thepassenger,said body engaging member being movable forwardly by forward momentum ofthe passenger from any of said operative positions, andmeans forcushioning the forward movement of said body engaging member when it ismoved forwardly by the body of the passenger upon a sudden change in therate of movement of the vehicle. a

ahead oi the body of the passenger through a series of operativepositions in advance oi the body oi'the passenger over the lap of thepassenger and substantially into contact with the torso or thepassenger, said supporting means holding said body engaging member ineach of its positions of adjustment-so that it will yield forwardly fromany of said operative positions to absorb momentum oi the body of thepassenger and also limit upward movement of the pes= senger in event ofa sudden decrease in the rate of forward movement oi the vehicle.

8. In a safety device for vehiclm adapted to be .mounted in the vehicleand positioned forwardly ingthe momentum force applied to said body etapassenger, the combination of: a primary supporting member adapted to beafllxed to the vehicle, a secondary member carried by and extenslblefrom said primary member, a body engaging member adjustably carried atthe rear of said secondary member, and means yieldably operative betweentwo 01 said members for absorbengaging member by a passenger upon asudden change in rate of movement of the vehicle.

9. In a safety device of the character described for use in vehicles andadapted to be positioned in a vehicle forwardly of a passenger, thecombination of: a primary supporting structure, a secondary structureextensible from said primary supporting structure, a cylinder pistondevice located below the upper plane 01 said primary and secondarystructures, said cylinder piston device embracing a cylinder part and 2.piston part, one oi the parts being connected to the primary supportingstructure, and the other part being connected to the said extensiblestructure,

a body engaging member carried at the rear edge of said vextensiblestructure, means for ad mitting fluid to said cylinder piston devicewhereby it will be charged with fluid and the forward momentum of apassenger occasioned by the aaaa'rss 7 sudden decrease in rate of speedof the vehicle will be cushioned by said device, and means manuallyoperative to release said fluid from said cylinder piston device.

10. In a safety device for use in vehicles adapted to be mounted in thevehicle forwardly of a passenger, the combination of: a primary supportfor attachment to the vehicle, provided with guide means; an extensiblemember movably carried by said guide means; a body engaging membercarried at the rear edge of said extensible member; means for absorbingforward momentum of the passenger upon sudden change in rate of speed ofthe vehicle operative between said primary supporting means and saidextensible means; and means for adjusting said extensible member to anyoperative position in advance of the body of a passenger, said lastnamed means being also operative to prevent rebound of said bodyengaging member.

11. A safety device for use in vehicles adapted to be mounted in avehicle forwardly of a passenger, the combination of a primary structurefor direct attachment to the vehicle forwardly of a passenger, anextensible structure carried by said primary supporting structure, acylinder piston device embracing a cylinder part carried by one of saidstructures and a piston part carried by the other of said structures, abody engaging member at the rear edge of said extensible structure, aflat member having a free edge contiguous to said body engaging membercarried by said extensible structure, and having guiding engagement withsaid supporting structure, means for controlling flow of fluid to andfrom said cylinder piston device so that the reaction of fluid pressuretherein will absorb forward momentum of the passenger upon a suddendecrease in rate of speed of the vehicle.

ROY K. VOORHIES.

